LAST
COIN OF SOUTH VIETNAM

This 1974 10 Dong coin was the last
circulating coin issued by South Vietnam before it fell on April 30,
1975. The 24mm brass-plated steel coin was issued as part of
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (F.A.O.) Coin
program. The program created awareness of the F.A.O.,
encouraged people to work towards eliminating food insecurity and raise
funds for F.A.O. and related programs. The reverse of the
coin features two farmers in a rice paddy with an inscription which
translates "Increase in food production of agricultural
products". The obverse features the denomination.
Item
SVN-10D SOUTH VIETNAM 10 DONG FAO 1974 UNC. $4.00
FIRST
COIN OF SOCIALIST VIETNAM

North
and South Vietnam were
formally unified on July 2, 1976 to form the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam. This aluminum 1976 1 Hao coin was one of the first
coins issued by the unified government. One side features the emblem of
Socialist Vietnam, the other has the denomination and date.
The coin was struck only a single year.
Item
VN-1H SOCIALIST VIETNAM 1 HAO 1976 KM11
AU-UNC. $5.00
VIETNAMESE CLOTH
RATION COUPON SHEETS
This cloth ration coupons were issued in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and
are dated 1979. In order to purchase cloth or clothing, one
had to present the appropriate number of coupons. Each sheet
was good for 4 meters (about 13 feet) of material and contained 14
individual coupons with values ranging from 5 centimeters (about 2
inches) to 50 centimeters of material. Each sheet is
made out to an individual. The pink ration coupons were
issued to women.. The sheets of
ration coupons are approximately 125mm
x 85mm (5" x 3.5") and have a blank back. The sheets have
been redeemed however still contain all their individual
coupons. It is a rarely seen item that was issued not long
after the fall of South Vietnam to the communists.
Item
PM-CLOTH-PINK VIETNAM WOMEN'S (PINK) CLOTH
RATION COUPON SHEET
$4.00
ATTRACTIVE
SOCIALIST VIETNAM
BANKNOTE SET
Ho Chi Minh is featured on the front of these five banknotes of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The back features various
Vietnamese enterprises. The 1987 200 Dong depicts a tractor and farmers
in a field. The 1988 500 Dong features ships in Hai Phong
Port. An elephant dragging logs is on the back of the 1988 1000
Dong. Textile workers are on the 1988 2000 Dong.
The 1991 5000 Dong features the Tri An Dam hydroelectric
plant. It is an attractive and colorful set. All
five are Uncirculated.
Item
PM-VN-SET5 VIETNAM 5 NOTE SET, 200 - 5000
DONG 1987-1991 UNC.
$7.00
VIETNAM 2003 COIN
SET
In
2003 Vietnam released their first coins in over a quarter of a
century. An entire generation grew had grown up without ever
using coins!
The government finally bowed to the requests of merchants and citizens
who wanted the convenience of coins for use in vending machines. There
were reports that many children who had never seen a coin before, tried
to eat them thinking they were candy. Vietnam has not issued any coins
for circulation since then. The brass 5000 Dong coin pictures
the Chua Mot Cot temple in Hanoi. The brass 2000 Dong shows a
traditional high-roofed house. The brass 1000 Dong shows a
temple in
the ancient capital of Hue. The copper-nickel 500 and 200 Dong coins
portray the denomination in large numerals. All five coins
are
dated
2003 and show the arms Vietnam on the obverse. The coins were
minted a
single year and circulated only briefly. Since then no further coins
have beeen released for circulation. Because of
inflation
they are
no longer used. The government has recalled them for melting,
making them difficult to obtain.
Item
VN-SET5 VIETNAM 5 COIN SET 200 - 5000 DONG,
2003 KM71-75, UNC. $9.75
COINS OF
LAOS
Laos is a landlocked nation bordering Vietnam. It rarely
issues coins for circulation. In 1980 Laos
issued its first coins for circulation in 28 years. These
consisted
of the 10, 20 and 50 Att, struck in aluminum and issued by the
Lao People's Democratic Republic. The designs of the coins
feature the denomination in large numbers, with a small picture below.
A woman holding grain is on the 10 Att, a farmer plowing is on the 20
Att and a fish is on the 50 Att. The reverse features the
national arms, which include a hammer and sickle.
Item
S-LA-SET80 LAO PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC REP. 1980 3
COIN SET, 10 - 50 ATT KM22-24 UNC.
$4.50
PATHET
LAO
LIBERATION BANKNOTE
In April 1968, the communist Pathet Lao forces introduced these notes
in the areas of the Laos that they controlled. Following
their victory in 1975 the notes were used throughout Laos.
This red 10 Kip issued by the Patht Lao depicts nurses with patients
and soldiers planting
bamboo booby-traps. Maybe the nurses are treating the unintended
victems of the booby-traps.
Item
PM-LA-10K PATHET LAO 10 KIP NOTE P20
UNC.
$3.00
SCARCE
KAMPUCHEA COIN

The
world did nothing while the Khmer Rouge
government of Cambodia slaughtered over a million of their citizens
between 1975 and 1979 in
an effort to create a communist paradise in Cambodia. It was
a
paradise only for those in power. Finally
in December 1978 Vietnam invaded Cambodia and soon defeated
the Khmer Rouge. In 1979 a new government with strong ties to Vietnam
was formed and
the country was renamed The People's Republic of
Kampuchea.
In 1989 the country restored its traditional name of
Cambodia.
This aluminum 5 Sen dated 1979 is the only a single coin was
issued for circulation by the People's Republic of Kampuchea.
One side has Kampuchea's coat of arms. The other side has the
denomination and date.
Item
KH-KAMP KAMPUCHEA (CAMBODIA) 5 SEN 1979 KM69
UNC. $3.00
TRADITIONAL THEMES
ON CAMBODIAN COINS
In 1994, with the restoration of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the return
of peace after decades of war, Cambodia issued its first coins for
circulation in 15 years. The four coin set consists of the
steel 50, 100 and 200 Riels coins and the bi-metallic 500 Riels. The
designs were largely taken from previous coin issues and feature
traditional Cambodian themes. The 500 Riels features the Royal
coat-of-arms that was used on the 50
Sen of 1959. The 200 Riels has the Consititution
and urn design that was used on the 1959
20 Sen coin. The 100 Riels depicts a temple at
Angkor Wat that was used on the unreleased 1970
1 Riel coin.
The 50 Riels pictures Independence Monument in Phnom Penh. It
was built in 1958 to celebrate Cambodia's independence from France.
Cambodian legends are on the reverse of each coin.
Item
S-KH-SET94 CAMBODIA 1994 4 COIN SET, 50 -
500 RIELS KM92-95
UNC. $5.00
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